End of Summer

I can't believe that it's over already! I had plans to write a short story or two, and try to get some quiet time to write! I maybe got a few days in here or there, but not enough to get some writing brainstormed, planned, and started.

I keep musing over my deficiencies and then when I have a great idea, I find myself thinking to myself: "I couldn't possibly write about THAT. I don't know anything about XYZ, and how would I remotely research it?"

Then along came my professional development course, massive grading from the summer reading program, and then my daughter having chicken pox right in the last week before my return to school.

Now I'm in mourning for the demise of my summer relaxation writing moments. Writing now will have to take place in between classes or hurriedly in a notebook in the car on the way home. Or late at night as I'm trying to keep my bleary eyes open.

Meanwhile, there's another conference I just HAVE to attend in October, and I have to get payments in by September 1st. Yikes! Where am I going to get around $500 at this juncture? Master's degree, you taunt me with your tempting credits and promises of future salary increases and untold learning!!

That's for sure! People think teaching is a boring profession, but that's just because they don't know what it's really like. Every day is different and new. The environment is intellectually charged. Everyone is always learning something. YOU'RE always learning something. It's a whirlwind of activity and interaction. I love what I do! Despite all of my lagging housework and trouble with squeezing out enough minutes for my day, I wouldn't change it for anything!

Listening to you about teaching is always encouraging. I hope it is that way when I become one. I found tutoring to be very cool, but it's a lot of work also. I'm kinda balanced between the work and fun part of it.

I happen to like thinking of my writing in between my work. I'm always thinking about it. I always carry pen and paper around and I write so much people always wonder what I'm writing about. If your really into writing, it probably wouldn't matter if you had a vacation or not. You'd be scribbling in the shower if you could

The first day is BUSY, fun and SUPER important in terms of establishing class routines and policies from the very beginning. I use the first day to tell them exactly how I work, what signals they need to pay attention to, down to what-it-means-when-I-look-at-you-like-THIS. You set up your expectations from Day One and then (here's the hard part) you try your best to be consistent with them. The first day is also fun because that's when you do all of your introductory activities to get to know them better as individuals. The more you know your students, the easier it is to build positive teacher-student relationships with them. That way when you have to call them out on a behavior, they know you're doing it because you love them and know them well, not just because you're having a pissy day. You show respect but keep your expectations high without giving them the feeling that you're pulling on their strings like marionettes. And then, hopefully, they learn to respect you back during the year. It's a very fun process.